BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) continues to face a double burden of malnutrition with stunting persisting among young children while overweight and obesity are increasingly prevalent among older age groups.
Based on the 2025 Updating Survey of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), stunting prevalence increased from 23 percent in 2023 to 28.2 percent in 2025 among children below five years old.
The DOST-FNRI classified this as a high to very high public health concern, with about three in every 10 children affected. It was noted that stunting was more prevalent among children from poor households.
Other forms of undernutrition were less prevalent in CAR. Underweight was recorded at 12.6%, the second-lowest among regions and below the national prevalence rate of 16.2%. Wasting stood at 3.8%, also below the national prevalence of 5.1%.
Among school-age children aged 5 to 10, CAR posted the country’s lowest underweight prevalence at 11.2%. The national prevalence was 18.6%. Wasting was likewise low at 3.4%.
Stunting rose from 13.3% in 2023 to 17.2% in 2025, although the increase was not statistically significant. At the same time, combined overweight and obesity increased from 18.9% to 20.3%, compared with the national rate of 16%.
The pattern continued among adolescents, with combined overweight and obesity reaching 19.7% in CAR, significantly higher than the national 15.6% and up from 18.4% in 2023. Adolescent wasting, meanwhile, was 4.7%, significantly lower than the national 9.6%.
For adults aged 20 to 59, obesity reached 50.6%, significantly higher than the national 44.5% and up from 43.9% in 2023. High waist circumference was recorded among 36.1% while 51.7% had a high waist-hip ratio.
Women of reproductive age also showed a substantial burden of excess weight. Among non-pregnant, non-lactating women aged 15 to 49, obesity increased from 41.1% in 2023 to 45.8% in 2025.
Among lactating mothers, chronic energy deficiency increased from 3.2 to 7%, while overweight declined slightly from 18.1 to 16.7%. Obesity, however, rose sharply from 41.4 to 52.3%.
Among older persons aged 60 and above, chronic energy deficiency was 8.9%, lower than the national 10.7%. Meanwhile, 19.4% were overweight and 34.9% were obese.
Frances Pola Aria, senior science research specialist of the DOST-FNRI, said anthropometric data help assess nutritional status, monitor nutrition and health trends, and guide nutrition planning and program evaluation.
She said the findings also provide evidence for tracking progress toward national and global nutrition goals including Sustainable Development Goal 2 or Zero Hunger, the Philippine Development Plan and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. **JDP/RGA-PIA CAR, Baguio City
